Type-writing machine



2 Sheets- Sheet 1,

(No Model.)

B. A. BROOKS. TYPE WRITING MACHINE.

Patented June 14, 1892..l

I men/Z011".

(No Model.) .2 Sheets-Sheet 2. B. A. BROOKS.

TYPE WRITINGMAGHINE.

No. 476,941. Patented June 14, 1892.

I wwe/@Z071- ilNiTED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

BYRON A. BROOKS, OF BROOKLYN, NEV YORK.

TYPE-WRITING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 476,941, dated June 14, 1892.

Application filed July 22,1887- Serial No. 245,012. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern..-

Be it known that I, BYRON A. BROOKS, of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in TypeVriters, of which the following is a description in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to enable any one skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the saine, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specifica` tion, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

Similar letters and ligures indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the draw ings.

My present invention consists of a novel type-writer of that class known as wheelmachines. In these mach'ines'the type is carried by a wheel or segment, which is turned to bring the types successively to the printing-point.

My invention consists of certain novel parts and combination of parts, which will be specitically designated in the claims concluding this specification.

The following is a description of the aecompanying drawings, wherein is illustrated an operative machine embodying in its preferred form all the several features of my presentinvention in combination; but it will of course be understood that these features may be employed severally as well as conjointly, and that various modifications may be adopted without departing from either the spirit o'r scope of my present invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l illustrates a side View of a wheel type-writer embodying my present invention. Fig. 2 illustrates'a back view of the same, and Fig. 3 a detail view of a cam employed in said machine. Fig. 3 is a side view with parts omitted, showing a modified form of certain features of my machine and of certain parts omitted in Fig. l, and Fig. 4 is a back view of the same.

The drawings illustrate a machine embodying, in combination, the novel features of my present invention; but these features may be employed separately as well as eonjoiutly.

My invention is notlimited to the precise devices and combination of devices illustrated in the annexed drawings, but includes substantial equivalents, since the form of the devices and their combination may be indelinitely varied without departing from either the spirit or scope of my invention; and the concluding claims, which designate the features of novelty in said machine, will be understood to cover suoli substantial equivalents and colorable changes which still embrace the principles of my improvements.

The following is a description of the said annexed drawings, which, with the accompanying specification, are sufficient to indicate to any person skilled in the art the nature of my invention.

A A are key-levers, of ordinary form and construction, pivoted either at their rear end, as shown, or at any other convenient point.

D is a type-wheel carrying on its periphery the types l5 B. This typewheel is carried by a shaft C, on which it is free to slide longitudinally and with which it is turned to bring the desired type opposite the printing-point, the pin A resting in a depression or hole cut in the top of said wheel.

E is a rod attached to lever E', the end of which works in a groove out in a collar attachcd to the typewhee1 D, which surrounds but freely slides upon the shaft C. Thelever E is attached to or operated by one or more key-levers, which when depressed slide the type-wheel D up or down on the shaft C to bring the proper row of types on a line with the printingpoint. This device is well known in wheel type-writers, and a further description of the same here is not deemed necessary.

F is a pinion-wheel attached to the shaft C.

G is a gear-segment in gear with the pinion F. The segment Gis attached to a rock-shaft H, which shaft carries a swinging bar I, eX- tendiug the entire width of the machine.

The several key levers A each bear on their lower sides cams .l .lfand these cams are so formed or so placed upon said key-levers A that when one or the other of said key-levers are depressed the swinging bar I will always be in the pat-h of said cam or one or the other limbs thereof and be swung to the desired position to bring to the printing-point the corv responding type, for as the bar I is swung to the right or the left, Fig. l, the bar I-I, to which ICO it is attached, is caused to rock or turn on its axis, thereby causing the segment G, attached to said bar H, to move forward or backward and, meshing with the pinion F on the shaft C, to revolve said shaft, and thereby the wheel D, to bring the desired type to the printing-point. Each of the key-levers A, therefore, carries a cam J, arranged to engage with the swinging bar I when depressed and to cause said bar to assume a position characteristic of the keylever, with which it is for the time being engaged. Attached to the shaft is a wheel K, having V-shaped teeth cut on its periphery.

L is a platen-carriage attached to a bar M, which bar has a longitudinal traveling motion through the supports (See Figs. 2 and 4.)

N is a platen having the paper-guides Oattached thereto, between which and said platen the paper P is supported or held.

Q is a friction guide-roll.

S T are two rods, both extending the entire width of the machine, connected together, and moving synchronously.

U is an arm attached to the bar M, by means of which said bar is caused to turn on its axis to throw the platen forward to press the paper against the printing-type.

V is a spring placed between a projection WV on the frame of the machine and a bar on which the arm U rests to normally hold said arm and the platen in the position illustrated at Fig. 1 of the drawings. The bar T extends beneath all the key-levers operating printingtypes, and as each of said levers are depressed they come in contact with the bar T, causing it and also the bar S to descend, thus pressing down the arm U against the force of the spring V and causing the platen to be thrown forward against the face of the type standing opposite its printing-point. Then a key-lever A is released from the pressure of the finger, the spring V throws the arm U up, carrying with it the rods S and T and returning the platen to the position illustrated in the drawings.

X is a prong pivoted to the bar M by sleeves surrounding said bar, but permitting it to slide freely through said sleeves, (see Fig. 4,) which stand between the lugs 33 33, which prevent said prong moving longitudinally as the bar Mslides through them. To the framepiece of this prong X the bar 30 is attached (see Figs. 3 and 4,) which rests under the toe U and by which it is depressed when operated to throw the prong X forward into engagement with the wheel K when the toe U is depressed, thus locking and holding the typewheel in position during the printing operation. It also insures the face of the typewheel being brought exactly to the printing position, for if it varies slightly from the proper position the prong X entering the V- shaped teeth of the wheel K will bring it exactly true and firmly hold it there until pressure on the key-lever is removed.

Y is a roller by means of which the face of the type when brought to the printing-point is inked.

Z is a distributing inking roller or surface against which the roller Y bears when it rests or past which it travels on its way to the type. Thisinking-rollerYis carried on a light frame consisting of a bar2,pivotcd to a lever 3,con nected with a rod 5, extending beneath all the printing key-levers. A spring 4, attached to the lever 3, bears against the end of the bar 2,so as to give the hiking-roller the necessary play and tension to cause it to roll easily over and yet to press with the necessary force against the face of the type to insure proper inking. As each of the printing key-levers A is depressed the frame 2 3 is thrown up to occupy the position shown in dotted lines, the inking-roller being ou its way pressed against the face of the type standing opposite the printing-point.

10 is a variable spacing-bar extending beneath all the printing key-levers, resting on a shoulder G, attached to a bar 9, and provided with a spring 7, bearing against the frame of the machine S, by means of which the variable spacing-bar 10 is normally held in its position of greatest elevation, as shown in Fig. 1. This spacing--bar 10 has an irregular upper surface formed by notches or projections, or both, for the purpose of'giving a variable spacing, as is now well understood in the art. The rods 9 Qcarry at their upper ends a frame 12, to which are attached the pawls 13 and 14, provided with springs l5 and 16. Attached to an extension 17 of the frame of the machine is a bar 1S.

19 is a ratchet-wheel attached to a shaft carried by the frame of the machine which bears the pinion 20, the teeth of which mesh in the teeth of the rack 21, attached' to the platen-carriage. "When the platen moves forwardr to press the paper against the printingtype, the rack-bar 21, which is attached to the platen-support, moves forward also; but as it is nearer the fulcrum M the distance traveled by the rack-bar is not nearly so great as the distance traveled by the platen. The pinionwheel 20 is made broad enough to remain in constant engagement with the rack-bar 21 as it vibrates forward and backward during the printing operation, as shown in the drawings. The variable spacing-bar 10 is provided with notches and projections so that it is given a variable downward motion as the several keylevers are depressed, and this variable motion is transmitted to the frame'12, carrying the actuating-pawls, and by these means the variable spacing between letters is accomplished. When the variable space-bar 10 is depressed by means of one or the other of the key-levers, the frame 12 is also depressed, and the pawl 14, sliding down the pin 23, earried on the bar 1S, is thrown out of engagement with the teeth on the ratchet-Wheel 19. At the samev time the pawl 13 slides over the ratchet-teeth on said wheel 19, and these two pawls then occupy7 the position shown in Fig.

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2. When the variable spacing-bar l0 ascends under the influence of the spring 7, the pawl 1S, ascending, revolves said wheel until just at the moment when it reaches its position of maximum elevation, when the pawl 14 falls into connection with said ratchet-teeth and prevents the wheel being by momentum turned too far.

24 is an ordinary detent for the purpose of holding said wheel stationary while the pawl 13 is slipping down over its toothed surface, as before described. When it is desired to draw the platen-carriage back to begin a new line, a lever 3l (see Fig. 31) is depressed, which carries the bar 12 down until both the pawls 13 and 14E are withdrawn out of engagement with said wheel.' To this lever 3l isattached a rod 32, connected with a pivoted bar 3l, engaging with the tail end of detent 24, thus withdrawing the detent and releas ing wheel 19, which is then left free to be revolved in the reverse direction.

The operation of the machine illustrated in the annexed drawings may be thus described: IVhen it is desired to printa given letter, the corresponding key-lever is depressed and the cam .I which it carries engages with the swinging bar I and moves it to the proper posit-ion, thereby turning the type-wheel to present the proper type opposite the printing-point on the platen. As the key-lever A continues to descend it comes in contact with the universal bar 5, thereby causing the inking-roller to perform its proper function and retire to a position out of the line of the platen as it approaches the freshly-inked type, as is illustrated in Fig. 1 in dotted lines. The key-lcvcr A in its continued descent then strikes against the universal bar T and causes the platen to advance and press the paper against the type. During the above-described operation the said key-lever has carried down with it in its descent the frame 12 and the pawls 13 and 14. During this operation the prong X is carried forward into connection with the V-shaped teeth on the wheel K, thereby insuring the type-wheel being in exactly the right position to present a type squarely to the printing-point and also locking and firmly holding it while the operation of printing is going on. When the key-lever is released, the platen retreats from the type-Wheel, the inking-roller returns to its normal position, and the frame l2 ascends,causing the platen to be fed forward a greater or less dist-ance, depending upon the distance which the frame 12 has just previously been depressed and thus presenting a new surface at the printing-point on the platen. Referring now to the operation of the several cams J it will be seen that when a given key-lever is depressed andthe corresponding type brought to the printing-point the said type remains in this printing position, when the key-lever is subsequently released and until the next key-lever is depressed, when its cam comes into contact with the universal bar I and moves it to a new position, so as to bring to the printingpoint its corresponding type. Cams might bc employed, however, which would bring the type-Wheel after eachprinting impulse to an initial position without departing from the spirit of my invention.

The cams .I are illustrated in detail in Fig. 3. In Fig. l the depressed key-lever has been thrown down just far enough to turn the type-wheel to the printing position, but not far enough to cause the inkiug-roller or the platen to perform their respective functions. These cams .I are so formed that after they have brought the rod I to the necessary position they will permit the key-lever A to continue its descent to ink and print the type without disturbing the position of said bar I. This is accomplished by means of a depression beyond the cam-surface cut in the arc of the radius of the key-lever, so that when the rock-shaf t L enters said depression no further motion is imparted to it. This depression below the cam-surfaces proper is preferably made to nicely fit the swinging rod I, and thereby lock the type-wheel in the printing position before the platen comes forward to meet the types.

It will of course be understood that for th purposes of this invention it is immaterial whether the platen or the type-wheel advances to press the paper against the type.

For the purpose of making the annexed drawings as clear and definite as possible I havenot illustrated certain features which do not directly or indirectly involve my invention, and which could be readily added in the present state of the art by any skilled mechanic-such, for instance, as means for revolving the platen to space between the lines and for drawing the platen back to begin new lines of print.

Having now described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a type-wheel, a plurality of key-levers, each provided with a cam by which it is revolved, a vibrating platen-carriage, a longitudinally-moving platen carried thereby, and suitable connecting mechanism, substantially as described, between said key-levers and said platen-carriage for vibrating the platen.

2. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a type-wheel, a plurality of key-levers by which it is revolved, and an inking-pad carried by a vibrating support and caused to press intermittently against said type-Wheel bythe operation of said key-levers, substantially as described.

3. In a type-writing machine, the combinam tion of a type-Wheel, a toothed Wheel on a type-Wheel shaft, a vibrating platen-carriage, a plurality of key-levers provided with cams, by means of which said type-wheel is revolved, and a prong attached to said carriage, having a vibratory movement with relation to said toothed wheel, substantially as described..

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4. In a type-writing machine, the combination of a type-Wheel, a plurality of key-levers, an inking-pad suspended on a vibrating support, and a bar operated by said key-levers for pressing said pad against the face of the printing-type, substantially as described.

5. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a type-wheel, a plurality of key-levers, an hiking-pad operated by said key-levers for inking the type on said wheel, and a vibrating platen for causing` the type to print on the receiving-paper.

G. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a type-wheel, a pluralityof key-levers for revolving said type-wheel, a vibrating inkin g-pad for inking` the printing-type, actuated by said key-levers, and a vibrating and longitudinally-traveling platen, and suitable connections, substantially as described, between the key-levers and the type-Wheel, the inkingpad, and the platen, respectively.

7. In a type-Writing machine, the combination of a pluralityof key-levers provided with cams, a type-wheel operated by said levers, a

vibrating and longitudinally-moving platen,

a bell-crank lever for vibrating said platen, and a universal baractuated by said key-levers for operating said bell-crank lever, substantiall y as described.

8. In a type-writing machine,the eo1nbination of a type-wheel, a vibrating and longitudinally-traveling platen, aplurality ot' keylevers by which it is operated, said key-levers being provided With cams for revolving' said type-wheel, means, substantially as described, for causing said platen to vibrate When said type-levers are depressed, and means, substantially as described, for causing said platen BYRON A. BROOKS. W'itnesses:

R. A. OORINALDI, ROBERT BARTLETT. 

